Safety device for submarines



April 3, 1934. s. J. WILSON SAFETY DEVICE FOR SUBMARINES Filed March 2, 1933 t a W S d Wu J S I 2 m m w a 0 l W MW 1/ 1 W w 0 7 5 m. IHI I P HI I I l 5 m m m 1 :iMl: a f 9 I n 7 Ii fl wniufi I I l m H u lnnnnl l l lflnr l "I zag Ap i 1934- I s. J. WILSON 1,953,843

SAFETY DEVICE FOR SUBMARINES Filed March 2, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f M 36 /5 (Z7 7 m F W H II III 36 w a? Patented Apr. 3, 1934 VUNITED STATES PATENT err-"ice This invention relates to an attachment or device adapted for release from a submarine in case of accident or distress in order to serve as a signal, enable communication, and permit supply of air,

*liquidand food to the'occupants of the stranded submarine.

The invention resides in the novel. combination and details of the structure hereinafter described and claimed in relation to accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:-

Figure 1 is a View showing a fragment of a submarine, and the attachment released,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the attachment, Figure 3 is a centralvertical longitudinal sectional view through the attachment alone,

Figure 4 is a view showing the attachment connected to a fragment of a submarine and taken on a vertical central plane,

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5--5 o1 Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view through the different valves employed, and Figure '7 is a detail sectional view on a plane indicated by line 77 of Figure 3.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 10 fragmentarilydesignates a submarine and 11 the attachment or device constituting my invention. Such attachment comprises a bowl-shaped casing section 12 preferably of metal into the upper edge of which is interfitted and held in a water-tight manner by the aid of a gasket 13, an upper casing section 14, which is preferably of glass or other material which is transparent to enable the interior of the casing 12--14 to be viewed therethrough.

Rising centrally from the bowl or casing section 2 is a metallic cylinder 15, being rigidly connected to the section 12, The glass section 14 is centrally cut away or open and about the edge engages a gasket 16 positioned by a trough 1'? formed on the cylinder 15 in order to provide a water-tight joint.

A ring or annular plate 18 of wood, metal, or g the like is in water-tight engagement by means of a gasket or the like aslat 19 with the glass section 14 and the plate 18' is held in position, also clamping the sections 12 and 14 detachably together, by means of bolts 20 passed through the plate 18 and at their lower ends being threaded detachably into stationary nuts or threaded members 21 rigid with shell 12. The bolts 20 are shielded by means of tubes or the like 22 surrounding them and disposed within the cylinder 15.

Fastened centrally to the bowl or section 12 is a metallic tube 23 which extends substantially the height of the cylinder 15 above the base of the bowl. Suitably attached in the lower end of the tube 23 below the shell 12, in a water-tight manner, is a cable 24, of relatively great length, to enable the same to be paid out from the submarine 10 to the surface of the water; best suggested in Figure 1. Centrally, the cable 24 carries a tube 25 of flexible material, which extends to the same height as the tube 23 or slightly above it as shown. Said cable 24 also includes electrical conductors 26 insulated from each other in any suitable manner and preferably by a single piece of insulation within the cable 24. The branches 2'? from such conductors 26 are insulated in any suitable manner and extend through water-tight connections 28 in the cylinder 15 and thence to lamps 29, telephone connections 30, and the like. It will be realized that the conductors 26 are adapted to be connected to the source of electrical energy or batteries within the submarine so that current will be supplied to the lamps 29 enabling them to serve as signals. Telephone connections from the surface of the water mayalso be made at 30 with the interior of the submarine. Water-tight connections 31 for the condoctors 27 are also provided through the tube 23.

Disposed in the cylinder 15 in spaced relation to the bottom of shell 12, is a vertically adjustable plate 32, its height being governed through the manipulation of screws 33 threaded thereto and engaging such bottom. Such plate 32 protects the conductors 2'7 and other parts below the same.

A hollow air-admitting dome is shown at 35, having a cylindrical wall 36, a top wall 37 provided with a ledge 38 outwardly beyond the wall 36, wall 36 being secured to a base plate 39 which projects laterally beyond the wall 36. A screen or perforated member 40 extends across the upper portion of the interior of the dome 35 and a centra-l tube extends from the plate 39 to the screen 40, in telescopic engagement with the tube 23. Normally the dome 35 is closed against the admission of air and water since the ledge 38 with a gasket 41 interposed engages the annular plate 18. Furthermore attaching rods 42 depend from the base plate 39 through water-tight stufling boxes 43 in the bottom wall of the shell 12 and thence through conduits 45 connected to the wall of the submarine 10. The lower ends of the attaching rods 42 have nuts 46 thereon which are adapted to abut the lower ends of the conduits 45. In this manner, the device is detachably cylinder 15, seating on the plate 32 andbearing. against the base plate 39, thus urging the domev 35 from the retracted position of Figure 4 to the released and projected position of Figures 1 and 3, the dome in the projected position by means of a gasket at 51 having water-tightconnection with the annular plate 18. 1

As a result of the construction described, the

attachment is normally rigidly connected to the submarine by means of the nuts 4-6on the secur-.

ing bolts 42, the dome 35 being retracted and in water-tight relation with the casing 1214.

In an emergency, the nuts 46 are removed from within the submarine, whereupon the water will cause the casing to rise, as shown. in Figure 1, since the same is buoyant. The pressure of the water overcomes the tension of the spring 50 until the dome is above the water whereupon the spring 50 expands and raises the dometo the projected position shown in Figures 1 and 3, so that air may enter through ports 53, then pass through the screen or sieve i0 and thence through the tube 25 to the interior of the submarine. The tube may also be used for the transfer of various liquids and foods to the interior of the submarine. In addition, connections may be made with sources of electrical energy within the submarine to illuminate the signal lamps- 29 and operate a telephone connected at 30. As soon as the rods 42 are withdrawn from the passages 45, the latter are closed through the medium of the valves 48 and if the cable 24 should break, the conduit 47 may be closed through actuation of the valve 49. i

Ports 54 may be provided in the wall 36, for the escape of water which may possibly enter'the air dome. Also through the adjustment of the screws 33, the tension of the spring 50 may be regulated.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of. the invention.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A submarine safety attachment comprising a buoyant casing, means to releasably secure the casing to a submarine, an air inlet dome normally retracted within said casing by the latter means, a tube extending from said dome for communication with the interior of a submarine, and means to urge projection of the dome for intake of air when the attachment floats.

2. A submarine safety attachment comprising a buoyant casing, means to releasably secure the casing to a submarine, an air inlet dome normally retracted within said casing by the latter means, a tube extending from said dome for communication with the interior of a submarine, means to urge projection of the dome for intake of air when the attachment floats, said casing having a light-penetrable portion, electric signaling means observable through said portion, and conductor means for the signaling means extending through said tube.

3. A safety device for a submarine comprising a casing section having a cylinder rising therefromja light-penetrable section in water-tight relation with said first section and cylinder, an air inlet dome in the cylinder, a rod extending from the dome through said casing, means to secure the rod to a submarine with the dome retracted within the casing section, means on the dometo abutthe casing section when retracted, means to urge projection of the dome after release of the device, and a tube in communication with the dome adapted to extend to the sub marine.

4. A safety device for a submarine comprising a casing section. having a cylinder rising therefrom, a light-penetrable section in water-tight relation with said first section and cylinder, an air inlet dome in the cylinder, a rod extending from the dome, means to secure the rod to a submarine with. the dome retracted, means to urge projection of the dome after release of the device, a tube in communication with the dome adapted to extend to the submarine, an annular plate engaging said light-penetrable section and engaged in a water-tight manner by the dome in retracted position and serving to limit projection of the dome, nut means within the cylinder, and bolts extending through the annular plate and engaging said-nut means.

5. A safety device fora submarine comprising a casing section having a cylinder rising therefrom, a iight-penetrable section in water-tight relation with said first section and cylinder, an

air inlet dome in the cylinder, a rod extending from the dome, means to secure the rod to a submarine with the dome retracted, means to urge projection of the dome after release of the device, a tube in communication with the dome adapted to extend to the submarine, an annular plate engaging said light-penetrable portion and engaged in a water-tight manner by the dome in retracted position and serving to limit projection of. the dome, nut means within the cylinder, bolts extending through the annular plate and engaging said nut means, a plate within the cylinder, means adjustably spacing the plate from the said means and tube normally passing through the ports of said valves.

SAMUEL J. WILSON. 

